All right, it's official: I'm making the call.

[BwanaDik]

I can't recall the car maker, but there is a commercial out there now with a driver thinking about things at home, reaching for something on the console, etc, and the point is to show that if the driver is distracted, that's OK, because the car will brake automatically, and warn him that he's drifting across the lane or changing into an occupied space...basically selling the fact that if you aren't really paying attention to driving, don't worry about it because the car's got it for you! I cringed when I saw that ad for the first time. Can we enable distracted driving any more thoroughly?

This ^^^^ is what I'm concerned about in our future. Although I think the stroy is false, there is the urban legend about the guy in the motorhome that put it on "cruise" then went into the back to make a pot of coffee with predictable results. Look at the pre-emptive braking systems that automatically slow the car down when it gets too close to the car ahead. These systems are in operation today. So combine them with this https://www.amazon.com/AutoExec-Wheelmate-Steering-Attachable-Surface/dp/B00E1D1GY6 and why bother to look up at all when behind the wheel. The system is supposed to work for drifting into the next lane too.

Keep it up Hans. I used to live in El Lay and split all the time. I always looked forward to your commuting insights. Now, in Hootin', I can't do that so instead I sometime do the "Texas Split" where I move not-so-much-between-the-cars as easing into the spaces between them (-ish) fore to aft in the same lanes, if you get what I mean. Unfortunately, it's extremely dangerous and I know exactly how Ryan crashed by hitting his rear tire on the car behind him, I've almost done it numerous times in the past.

Stay alert! The world needs more lerts!

 

[mcatrophy]

...In the UK they reached a compromise. You may use a cell phone, but it has to be handsfree and the penalties for not complying are severe. Most folk see the sense in the compromise, and the problem, while it still exists, was massively reduced...

The last time I saw statistics on cell-phone use and accidents, there was no difference between hands-free or hand-held. I strongly suspect it would be very difficult to enforce hands-free usage, so the authorities consider banning hands-free would be unworkable.

As to "the problem ... was massively reduced", many UK drivers are still using hand-held phones, and I've nearly been run into by hand-held phone users more than once (and possibly by hands-free users, but difficult to know). While the police occasionally have a clamp-down, targeting a particular area for hand-held phone users, there are normally too few police on our roads. The only enforcement we normally have in the UK is speed cameras.

 

[Twigg]

...In the UK they reached a compromise. You may use a cell phone, but it has to be handsfree and the penalties for not complying are severe. Most folk see the sense in the compromise, and the problem, while it still exists, was massively reduced...

The last time I saw statistics on cell-phone use and accidents, there was no difference between hands-free or hand-held. I strongly suspect it would be very difficult to enforce hands-free usage, so the authorities consider banning hands-free would be unworkable.

As to "the problem ... was massively reduced", many UK drivers are still using hand-held phones, and I've nearly been run into by hand-held phone users more than once (and possibly by hands-free users, but difficult to know). While the police occasionally have a clamp-down, targeting a particular area for hand-held phone users, there are normally too few police on our roads. The only enforcement we normally have in the UK is speed cameras.

The problem has been significantly reduced, but tackling things like this are not always best dealt with by penalties.

Drinking and driving was tackled through a combination of education, attitude changes and penalties. It will be the same with cell phones. It takes time and that sucks, but simply being punitive to a few convinces many that they will get away with it ... You need to persuade the majority that it is a bad idea.

Prohibition rarely works unless the general public agrees that an activity should be prohibited. The whole area of "distracted driving" is a minefield. Try removing GPS and Audio systems from cars and watch how hard it would be to pass a law. So we have to accept that drivers will multi-task, but teach them to do it safely.

 

[beemerdons]

Holy crap. I haven't seen a more pointless thread everrrrrrr.
And that includes syn vs. conventional.

4 pages of this dribble!

My hat is off to Hans. Well done.

Yo Marky-Mark, my Irish nephew Old Michael just sent me this truly inspirational poster. Mick is always so damn upbeat, however he was grousing and bitching about some Jackwagon that put up a Ride Report last year that showed nothing but photographs of rocks and license plates in it! JSNS!

 

[James Burleigh]

jk

 

[James Burleigh]

= James Burleigh

da Vinci.... Nice.

Here's a link to the large (26" by 56") oil painting I just finished last weekend:

https://gudeartist.wix.com/gudeart#!Mt-Diablo-at-Sunset/zoom/cklj/imagetyl

 

[HotRodZilla]

Wow Hans...Nice!!

Don't stress riding. If you wanna do it, do it. If you dont, dont. There are plenty of things I stopped doing because I needed to move on. For most of us, motorcycles are a hobby, or are at least supposed to be fun. When it's not fun, stop. Easy!!

 

[BanjoBoy]

Wow Hans...Nice!!
Don't stress riding. If you wanna do it, do it. If you dont, dont. There are plenty of things I stopped doing because I needed to move on. For most of us, motorcycles are a hobby, or are at least supposed to be fun. When it's not fun, stop. Easy!!

Well, he iz talk'in 'bout commuting in the bay area. Ride'in is a must if ya wanta get anywhere.

I feel yer pain Hans, it is get'in worse. Butt me; I still look forward ta be'in on the bike. Come on up to laid back the north bay.

 

[beemerdons]

Okay okay okay! Uncle!

I'll keep my existential bullsh*t to myself, and try to forget that my avatar is the "father of existentialism," the bastage.
Anyone wanna go riding?

Jean Paul Sartre: To do is to be!

Albert Camus: To be is to do!

Frank Sinatra: Do be do be do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlSbSKNk9f0

 

[James Burleigh]

Okay okay okay! Uncle!

I'll keep my existential bullsh*t to myself, and try to forget that my avatar is the "father of existentialism," the bastage.
Anyone wanna go riding?

Jean Paul Sartre: To do is to be!

Albert Camus: To be is to do!

Frank Sinatra: Do be do be do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlSbSKNk9f0

I wanna ride your K1600